In Ocala, students honor those who served

Joe Callahan @JoeOcalaNews

Friday

Nov 9, 2018 at 5:08 PMNov 9, 2018 at 6:11 PM

Annual Veterans Day ceremony draws thousands

There were far more students than honorees on Friday at the 13th annual Veterans Day Ceremony. The reason is twofold: The district bused more students than ever before to the event; and the number of veterans, especially from the World War II era, is declining.

A record 3,000 students, most of whom bused from Marion County's 51 school campuses, came to the Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park to learn about what military veterans have done to ensure their freedom.

There were many chorus performances and poem recitals, as well as a 21-gun salute, taps and the laying of the wreath. There was a flyover by the Sky Dynamics Warbirds. Color guards from many JROTC programs, as well as the Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary School color guard, participated in the opening ceremony.

“Today we recognize the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, to honor all who served, including our very own veterans right here in Marion County,” school district Director of Communications Kevin Christian said. “To those veterans with us today, including those who are disabled, we say: ‘Thank you.’ ”

Superintendent of Schools Heidi Maier, who is from a military family, used part of her speech to address the students directly.

“History comes in many forms and is alive today thanks to the people who served our country so we could enjoy a day like today,” she said. "These people are called heroes, true heroes. They are famous Americans whose names we might recognize or names we’ve never heard before.

“Regardless, they’re still heroes, and you’ve met some of them in your own classrooms," she continued. "They bring history to life, and their lessons are so enriched with personal descriptions, stories of camaraderie, and spirits filled with contagious American pride.”

The school district met with several veterans years ago to determine if schools should close on Nov. 11 to honor them. The veterans urged the district to stay open and educate students about their fight to preserve freedom. They didn’t want students to be hanging out at the mall, at the beach or playing video games on a day when they should honor veterans.

Tony Burke, a retired school district employee, is president of the Marion County Veterans Council. Burke, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, said education is important.

“That would be a day out of school in front of the TV,” Burke said. “Instead they can get hands on history lessons.”

Craig Ham, who retired recently as deputy superintendent of operations, spent 26 years in the U.S. Army, from 1969 to 1995. He served one tour in Vietnam.

“As a Marion County veteran, this event is what cements the relationship between the community and our veterans and there is nothing better,” Ham noted. “And for those of us who served, it really wakes us up and makes our heart feels good.”

Retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Darrin Singer said the Veterans Day event gives him, and other veterans, a sense of “pride and happiness.” He lost his leg due to diabetes. Singer said the diabetes is considered a service injury because it was a result of complications from heavy metals he was exposed to while serving in Iraq.

When the school district began sponsoring the ceremony in 2006, dozens of World War II veterans walked proudly throughout the park. On Friday, only a handful of these veterans, who are now between the ages 90 and 100, were in attendance.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says about 496,777 of 16 million World War II veterans are still alive. On average, about 348 die every day (127,000 annually). In five years, there will be fewer than 100,000 WWII veterans alive, the department estimates.

In Marion County, the number of all veterans has declined by 15 percent since 2009. The decline would have been greater but many retirees, many of whom are military veterans, move to the county each year.

“We see fewer and fewer (WWII vets) at this event every year,” said Christian, who emceed Friday's event.

Marion County Veterans Services officials said they could not break down how many WWII veterans are living in Marion County. The best guess is that there are fewer than 1,000. There are roughly 36,000 total.

Sunday at 11 a.m. will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. The following year, on Nov. 11, 1919, officials held the first Armistice Day, which became known as Veterans Day in 1954.

“Thank you veterans for your sacrifices so our students can become proud American citizens for generations to come,” Maier said. “God bless you, and God bless America!”

Joe Callahan can be reached at 867-4113 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeOcalaNews.

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